Electric flash-light controlling means



ug 6 27 G. K. v. ,JoHANsoN 1639507 ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT -comRoLLIm MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1926 WIA ` INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug.l 16,l 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES GEORG KARL VILHELM JOHANSON, F STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASBIGNOB TO IEBI- CAN GASACCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OI' NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC FLASH-'LIGHT coN'rnoLLnre MEANS.

Application llled September 25, 1926, Serial No. 137,716, and in Sweden lay 1, 1924.

The. present invention relates broadly to electric fiashlight a paratus but more particularly to means lor controlling the Hashingv of the light.

l A general object of the invention is to provide a controllmg means which is simple in construction but highly efficient in operation.

' It also is an object of the invention to pro'- llo vide a device for controllin the flashing of the light or lights of Aan e ectric flashlight apparatus comprising novel means for effecting relative movements of the contacts for opening and closing the light circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a controlling device of the character indicated comprising novel means whereby relative movements of the contacts for openin and closing the light circuit may be efecte U-without any or wlth a minimum of shock or concussion and consequent or resulting vibrations, the presence of which would cause sparking and consequent rapid deterioration and destruction of the contacts.

`The foregoing are some of the ob'ects and y'advantagesof the invention but ot ers'will be referred to in the detailed description of the invention which follows 'or will become apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which I have' illustrated certain mechanical structures embodyin the invention' and disclosing the princip e of operation thereof; but it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other mechanical forms than those shown and that various changes inthe details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without de arting from the invention or the princi le t ereof.v l l In t e drawing: Fig. 1 is a view in central vertical section 4of electric flashlight controlling. means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section taken on the line' 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a fraumentary portion of the structure, the said view being taken from a point looking in the direction of the arrows 3--3in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on the line 1 -4.' of Fig. 1;

Fi 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but s lowing a modified construction of contact actuatin means; and

Fig. 6 also 1s a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing .still another modified construction of means for actuating and controlling the contacts for controlling the ashli ht-circuit.

In t e drawing 1 desi ates the base member of the structure having a horizontal bottom orbase ortion 2 upon which the o erative parts ot? the structure areimounte and supported. Mounted uponathe base 1 is a dome-shaped protecting cover 3 for covering and protecting the, operative parts of the structure. r

Mounted upon the bottom 2 of the base 1 is a block 4 of insulating material upon which is mounted a support 5 in the form of ay bracket. The support 5 is provided with 75 an inwardly extended portion 6 from the inner end of which aivertical portion 7- extends whch terminates in a horizontally extending portion 8 which constitutes thetop of the support. The horizontally extending portion 8 is rovided with a tapped opening 9 within w ich' is mounted an adjustable bearing support 10. The lower end of the .bearing support 1s .provided with an open' ing, as shown, within which is mounted a li bearin block 11 for the upper end of a vertical s aft 12. The. lower end of the shaft 12 is mounted within or upon a bearing y block 15 supported upon the bottom 2 of the base centrally thereof. The shaft 12 is in- 90 sulated from the bearing blocks 11 and 15 by means of sections of insulating material at 16. The adjustable bearing vsupport 10 is adapted to be locked in .adjusted position by means of a lock nut 17. An arm 20 is mounted ad'ustabl upon the lower end portion of thea justab e bearing support 10, havin screw threaded connection. therewith as s own. One end of the said arm terminates in a point, as indicated 1' at 21, which may cooperate with a calibrated scale (notshown) upon the adjoining end portion of the horizontal extension 8 of the support 5. The opposite end of the arm 2O is provi-ded with a epending lug or projection 22 with which the outer end of a volute y rection.

spring 25 is connected, the inner end of the said spring being connected to a sleeve 26 secured by means of a binding screw 27 upon the shaft 12. Normally the spring 25 is in balanced condition; that is, it does not tend to cause rotation of the shaft 12 in either di- If altered from that position it tends to return to it, exerting a force corresponding to such tendency upon the shaft 12,y

tending to rotate it in one direction or the other. A wire friction spring 28 is coiled about the adjustable bearing support and bears at one cnil against the arm 2() and at its opposite end against the under side of the portion 8 of the bracket support 5. This spring assists in retaining the arm in any position to which it maybe adjusted.

A contact carrying lever 30 is also mounted intermediate its ends upon the upright shaft 12. For mounting the said lever upon the said shaft it is provided with upwardly and downwardly extending arms integral with its opposite edges the outer ends of which are bent laterally as indicated at 31. These laterally bent ortions are provided with openings wit in which are mounted and secured headed sleeves 32 which in turn are loosely mounted upon the shaft 12. The upper sleeve 32 may be located as shown in juxtaposition with respect to a sleeve 33 which is adjustably secured in position upon the shaft by means of a binding screw 34. A radially extending arm 35 extends outwardly from the sleeve 33 and the outer end thereof extends downwardly, as indicated at 36, to a point to enable it to contact, during the operation of the device, with one side of the end ortion 37 of the lever 30. The purpose o this relationship between the depen-ding portion 36 of the arm 35 and the adjacent end portion or arm of the lever 30 will be hereinafter pointed out.

The opposite end portion 38 of the lever 30 is provided with a contact 39 which is adapted to cooperate with a stationary contact 40 mounted vupon a su ort 41 which in turn is supported upon ab ook of insulation 42 secured by screws 43 to the upright portion 7 ofthe bracket support 5. The support 41 is secured to the block 42 of insulating material by means of a screw 45 and a bolt 46 the latter constituting a binding ost to which one end of a conductin wire 4 is secured, the opposite end of which may be connected to the positive side of a source (not shown) of electric current.

The end portion 37 of the contact su porting lever 30 is provided with a depend)- ing projection 50 to which the outer end of a volute spring 51 is connected by means of a screw 52 or other connecting means. The opposite inner end of the said spring is connected to a sleeve 53 adjustably secured to the shaft 12 by means of a binding screw 54. The upper end of the sleeve 53 constitutes a support or bearing for the lower sleeve 32 previously referred to. The tendency of the spring 51 is to unwind and such tendency operates normally; that is, when the circuit is open, to hold the contact 39 in yielding'contact with the stationary contact 40 Separation of the contact 39 from the contact 40 is effected by contact of the depending portion 36 of the arm 35 which takes place when the shaft l2 is rotated in the direction of the arrows 55 in Fig. 4 and the arrow 56 in Fig. 2. The extent of opening movement of the contact 39 depends upon the extent of rotation of the shaft 12 and the consequent extent of revolution of said depending portion 36.

For the purpose of rotating the shaft 12 in one direction to effect openin j movement of the 'Contact 39 l have provide an electromagnet 60 mounted upon the bottom 2 of the base support: and insulated therefrom by means of a sheet of insulation 61. The pole pieces 62 of the electro-magnet extend outwardly' and laterally therefrom and terminate at their ends in inwardly extending hook-like portions 63. The magnet armature 64 is mounted upon the shaft 12. The said armature consists, in one form, of a metal plate or bar having spaced parallel splits therein, the portions between and outside of the said splits being bent-as indicated at 66 in order to provide a hub or bearino' portion through which the shaft 12 extent s. The said armature is secured in such position as nizay be desired by means of a binding screw When the device is not in operation and the circuit through the coil of the electromagnet 60 is open the' armature 64 occupies Some such positionas that indicated in Fig. 4 with respect to the inwardly extending end portions 63 of the pole pieces 62. The light by means of which the flashing signals are effected is included in the same circuit as that of the electro-magnet 60 and may be either in series or parallel with the winding thereof, as may be preferred.

The complete circuit, the light, and the switch by means of which the circuit may be permanently broken and the operation of the device discontinued when it is desired to discontinue the same, are not shown bel ed. The bar 70 is directly mounted upon a sleeve 7l which in turn is mounted upon the shaft 12. The said bar operates in a manner similar to that of aV pendulum and therefore may be referred to as a pendulum bar, and the said bar together with the shaft 12 may be regardedi/as a pendulum device.

If 1t now be assumed that current is fiowjin to the device through the conductor 47 it wi l How through the member 4l, thence through the contacts 40 and 39, the lever 30 to' the shaft 12, through the spring 25, the arm 20, the support 5, thence through a conductor. 72 to the winding of the electro-inagnet and the light^back to the current source. As before stated, `the winding of the electromagnet and the light may be in series or parallel, as preferred. Such fiow of current will energize the electro-magnet and cause uick or rapid movement of the armature 64 om` some such position as that shown in Fig. 4 into alinement'with the inwardly extended portions 63 of the Ipole pieces 62 Such movement causes rotation of the shaft 12 and the parts or elements rigidly se' cured thereto in the direction of the arrows 55. The angular or rotaryI movement of the shaft 12 thus effected causes movement of the arm 35 to carry the depending portion 36 thereof into contact with the adjoining portion 37 of the lever 30 which carries 'the -contact 39 and causes movement of the said ,lever to open the said contact. The circuit is thereby brokenl but the movement of rotation of the shaft 12 and the parts car- `ried thereby continues under the influence lof inertia, particularly the -inertia of the bar 70. Such movement placs the spring under tension which tends to stop the said movement and to cause movement in the opposite direction. Finally the eifectsof friction and of the spring 25 are sutiicient to lstop the movement ofrotation started by the movement of the armature 64 whereupon the spring 25, which has been placed l underftension, .causes movement of. thelparta` in theopposite direction. Such movement in the opposite direction causes t-he depend- .ing portion 3 6 of the arm 35 to release or to moveaway from the portion 37 of the lever and to permit the spring 51 to cause movement of the lever 30 about the shaft 12 to carry the contact 39 again into en agement with the stationary contact 40, w ere# upon the circuit is again closed; The' inertia o the moving parts, including the relatively heavy bar 70', causes continued reverse movement of the shaft 12 and of the arm 35 with its projection 36 in a direction to effect pivota-l movement of the contact carrying lever 37 to move the contact 39 into open positionv or away from the Contact 40. This operation is repeated over and over again during the time that the control device is in use.

A stop 75 may be adjustably mounted upon the bar 70 and if desired may be moved into position as indicated in dotted lines t0 contact with the inwardly extendin portion 6 of the supporting bracket 5 t imit the movement of the said bar and of the shaft 12 in one direction.

yIn Fig. 5 I have shown a modified oonstruction of means for supporting the movable contact of the cooperating contacts 39 and 40 previously referred to. In the construction as illustrated in this fi re the parts 5, 12, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 4 51, 52, 35 and 36 are identicalwith the parts correspondingly numbered in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing. f

The outer end portion ofthe spring 51 in said Fig. 5 is connected to one end ortion 37 of a lever 30 mounted upon the s aft 12 in identically the same manner as the contact lever 30 is mounted upon the said shaft.

The opposite end portion 38 of the lever 30 contacts with aplate 76 which together with the contact 39 is secured to a longitudinally movable supporting rod 77, The said rod is slidably mounted within an opening through a bracket or support 78 mounted in any convenient manner upon the bottom 2 of the base 1. A wire spring 7 9, coiled aboutthe rod 77 and bearing at one end against the support 78 andat its op osite end against the plate 76, operates to ho d the contact 39 in engagement with the contact 40. The said contact is adapted to be separated from the Contact 40 by rotation of the lever 30' about the shaft 12 inthe direction of the arrow 80. Rotation of the saidlever 30' is effected 1n the direction of the arrowv 80 and inthev opposite direction in exactly the same man- .l

ner as rotation of the contact bearing lever` 30 is effected.v v

In the construction as shown in Fig.'6 thev upon the outer end of the arm 82 'of an an'- guiar lever the. other arm 83 of` which extends inwardly and terminates incooperative relation to cam surface ofl afcam' member 84 mounted' upon the shaft 12. The said arm 83 is provided with a roller 85 which bears against the cam surface of the said cam. The lever is provided with a pro- -jection or ear 86 which is pivoted by means of a pivot 87 upon an ear 88 which projects outwardly from the bar or plate 90 secured by means of a screw 91 to the insulating block 42. A wire spring 92 coiled about the pivot 87 and one of its ends is hooked around an edge of the ear or projection 88. The said spring bears against a portion of the arm 82 of the angular lever. The tendency of the spring 92 is to unwind and its tendency also is to hold the contact 39 in engagement with the contact Rotation of the shaft 12 and the parts carried thereby including the cam 84 is effected in identically the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4' inclusive, and the operation and the function of the structure embodying the means as shown inl Fig. 6 are identical with the operation and function of the construction as disclosed in and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inelusive.

In the several' forms of construction shown the movement of the movable contact into engagement with the stationary contact is effected by the combined action of the spring 25 and the springs 51, 79 and 92 which are associated with the respective movable contacts. In the operation of the device the movable contact is seated gently or softly upon the stationary contact and does not strike the same with a hard blow so as to produce vibrations such as would cause the production of sparks between the adjoining faces of the contacts. The consequence of this is that the surfaces of the contacts are not worn away as would be the case if the contacts came together with a blow followed by immediately succeeding vibrations.

Any suitable means other than that shown may be employed for effecting opening and closing movements of the movable contact to effect flashing of the light, provided, however. that the movable contact is actuated by a. spring or other suitable yielding means the tendency of which is to hold the contacts pressed together or in yielding contact with each other.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In electric flashlight controlling means,

`the combination of relatively movable confacts, yielding means tending to hold said contacts in 'closed relation to each other, means movable in one direction for causing relative movements of said contacts to open the same, and other yielding means adapted to act upon said second named means to cause movement. thereof in the opposite direction to permit relative movements of said Leegte? contacts into closed relation with respect to each other.

2. In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of a stationary and a mov able contact, yielding means tending to hold the movable contact in engagement with the stationary contact, movable means operating upon the closing of said contacts to cause movement of the movable contact into open position, and other meant; thereafter acting upon the second named means to cause movenient thereof iin a direction to permit the said yielding means to cause closing movenient of the said movable contact.

In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of a movable and a stationary contact, lelectrically actuated means for effecting opening movement of the said movable contact, yielding means tending to hold the said movable contact in closed position, and yielding means for causing movement in the opposite direction of the electrically actuated means to permit closing movement of the said movable contact.

4. Invelectric fiashlight controlling means, the combination of relatively movable contacts, electrically actuated means for effecting relative movements o'f said contacts to open the same, yielding means mounted upon the said electrically actuated means which tends to hold the said contacts in closed relation to each other, and other yielding means adapted to cause movement of the Said electrically actuated means in the opposite direction to permit?` relative closing movements of the said contacts.

5. In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of a endulum device, electric contacts one of which is rotatably mounted on the said pendulum device, yielding means tending to hold the said electric contacts in engagement with each other, means for causing movement of the said pendulum device in one direction to effect relative opening movements of the said contacts, and yielding means for eecting movement of the said pendulum device in the opposite direction to permit relative closing movements of the said contacts.

6. In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of an oscillatable shaft, electric contacts, one of which is loosely mounted upon the said shaft and adapted to rotate with respect thereto, means for ef? fecting rotative movement of the said shaft in one direction, means adapted to engage the support of the contact` carried by said shaft to eflect movement of the said contact out of engagement with the stationary con tact, and yielding means havingconnection with the said shaft and operating to cause rotative movement thereof in the opposite direction to permit closing movement of the contact mounted upon the said shaft.

7 In electric flashlight controlling means,

the combination of an oscillatable shaft, a stationary, contact, a movable contact, means loosely mounted upon the said shaft for supporting. said movable contact, yielding means having connection at one end to Said shaft and at its opposite end, to said movlable contact supporting mean's and tend1ng..

to cause closing movement of the said movable contact means for effectingrotation of the said shaft in one direction, means carried by said shaft for engaging the movable contact support to cause opemng movement of the said movable contact, and yielding means having connection with the said shaft and operating to efectfrotative movement thereof in the opposite direction to Permit closing movement of the' said movable contact.

8. In electric flashli ht controlling means,

the combination of a s aft, a stationary con-- means rendered effective by the rotation of the combination of av stationar the said shaft for causing rotation thereof in the o posite direction to permit movement of t e said movable contact into closed position. Y

9. In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of a rotatable shaft having a pendulum bar thereon, a stationary contact, a movable contact, a support for said movable contact which is rotatably mounted upon the said shaft means for applying an im ulse force to the said shaft to effect rotation thereof in one direction, means carried `by the said shaft for .contacting with themovable contact support to effect movement of the latter to effect movement of the movable contact away from the stationary conmeans havin connection with tact yieldin It and adapte to be placed unthe said sha der tension by the rotation of the said shaft,

and the said yielding means operating to terminate the previously `mentioned rotation of said shaft and to cause rotation thereof in the opposite direction' to permit closing movement of -the said movable contact.

10. In electric flashlight controlling means, contact, a

' .movable contact, a rotatable s aft, means `:lisely mounted upon the said shaft for supporting the said movable contact, a spring avi'ng connection at one end to the said rotatable shaft and at its opposite end to the said movable'contact support and tending to cause movement of said support in a direction to close the movable contact,`

means for applying an impulse force to the said shaft to effect rotation thereof in one direction, means carried by Said ,shaft for engaging thefsupport for said movable contact to effect opening movement of the latter a coiled spring having connection at' one .end to a stationary support and at its opposite end tothe said shaft, the said spring normally being balanced and being placed under` tension'by the rotary movement of the said shaft and operating to effect rotation of the said shaft in the Aopposite direction to permit closing movement of the'saidmovable contact, and inertia increasing means carried by the said shaft whereby the extent of the rotary movements of the said shaft in opposite directions beyond the normal positions thereof is increased.

1l. In electric flashlight controlling means,

the combination of a stationary'contact, a.

rotatable shaft, a contact mounted u on the said shaft and adapted to have oscillatory movements about the shaft independently of the rotation thereof, a yielding means interposed between the said-shaft and the said contact which tends to hold the said contact pressed against the said stationary' contact.

12. In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of a stationary contact, 'an

oscillatable shaft, a lever mounted upon the said shaft and oscillatable independently thereof, a contact mounted upon one end of said. lever and ladapted to engage the said stationary contact, means for effectin oscillatory movements ofthe said shaft, an yielding means interposed between the said shaft and the said contact supporting levertending to hold the latter in position to press the movable contact against the stationary con'- tact. v

13; In electric flashlight controlling means, the combination of a stationary electric contact, an oscillatable, shaft, electrically actuated means for causing movement ofsaid shaft in one direction, yielding means for causing movement thereof in the opposite direction, a contact supportin member oscillatably mounted upon the said shaft means having connection 'at oneend to the said shaft and at its opposite end to the said the combination of a stationary contact, a`

pendulum device comprising a rotatable shaft, an electro-magnet the poles of which` extend laterally an are located upon op- .member which tends to hold said member in posite sides of the said shaft, which poles are provided with inwardly extending projections, un armature mounted upon the said shaftandextending in a plane normally out of alinem-entwith the plane of the inwardly extending portions ef the said poles, the said armature being adapted to move into alinement with the said inwardly extendin prtions of the said poles upon energization of the said electro-magnet to cause rotation of the said shaft in one diret-tion, u movable contact, a lever rotatably mounted upon the said shaft upon one end of which the said movable Contact is supported, yielding means interposed between the said lever and the said shaft which tends to hold the movable Contact pressed against the stationary contact` means carried by said shaft for engaging the said lever when the said shaft is rotated by the actuation of the said armature, and yielding means operating to cause,

movement of the said shaft in the opposite direction to permit closing movement of the movable contact, substantial] as described. In testimony that I claim tli'e foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my nume this th day of September, 1926.

GEORG KARL VILHELH JOHANSON. 

